Endorsement of a non-federal entity, event, product, service, or enterprise may be neither stated nor implied by the U.S. Coast Guard or Coast Guard employees in their official capacities, including through use of their images. Additionally, titles, positions, or organization names may not be used to suggest official endorsement or preferential treatment of any non-federal entity, except in limited circumstances per COMDTINST M5728.2D. In all cases, service-specific insignia must be removed from advertising, marketing or promotional material.
The use of U.S. Coast Guard still and/or motion imagery that includes people who can be personally identified in the image is not authorized, unless the requestor contacts those people and obtains written permission for the use of their identifiable image.
U.S. Coast Guard assets such as aircraft, boats, and cutters cannot be used in any company marketing or advertising campaign if they incorporate distinctive U.S. military markings and/or other features that would connote U.S. Coast Guard endorsement of the campaign.
If still or motion imagery is to be used for commercial advertisement, the proposed ad layout with its accompanying copy must be approved by Commandant (CG-09223), Coast Guard Office of Public Affairs, Community Relations Division.
For approval, email lim.gcsu@gnisnecil_gcsu or call (202) 372-4646.
Coast Guard visual imagery cannot be used to support political campaigns or other partisan activities.
Images, pictures, and other media depicting U.S. Coast Guard personnel carrying out their official duties may be used by non-federal entities in communication venues which are solely informational in nature, such as newspapers, news magazines, or other media that focus on reporting social or industry news, and are not directly or indirectly associated with a marketing, advertising, or a self-promoting activity (including company annual reports).
U.S. Coast Guard contractors have a responsibility for clearing their produced print and electronic promotional marketing and advertising materials before public release.
All video and photos released are U.S. Coast Guard property. Photos shall include the name of the photographer and be credited in the following format:
NEWS OUTLET SAMPLE: Photo by (name), U.S. Coast Guard.
COMMERCIAL USE SAMPLE: Use of this U.S. Coast Guard image does not imply or constitute endorsement of this organization, its products or services.